Dental Hygiene

• Never go more than 6 months between cleanings.
• Recare appointments vary from patient to patient depending on amount of plaque production, the individual’s periodontal pocket depth, and one’s ability to maintain a healthy dentition.
• We highly recommend using the Braun oral-B iO tooth brush. Ask us why and for a demonstration in office.
• Brushing should be done 2x/day, morning and night for 2 minutes each time. Brushing at night is the most important time to clean thoroughly. Brushing should include the tongue and your gums preferably in a circular or stationary vibrating motion at a 45 degree angle towards the gum.
• Flossing should be done also at night to remove plaque or food from between the teeth which can cause inflammation, or gingivitis, if not removed. Luckily, if treated early, gingivitis is reversible.
• When flossing, don’t just pop in and out! Hug and rub each side of each tooth gently.
• Measuring the gum pocket depth, also known as periodontal probing, should be documented once a year to monitor the health of the gums and surrounding bone. These measurements help to diagnose gum disease. For patients with active gum disease, periodontal deep cleanings, also known as SRPs (Scaling and root planing), will be recommended. 
• You don’t have to have an electric toothbrush to do a good job brushing your teeth. The Sonicare and Braun are good models to choose if it helps make it easier or if preferred.
• Always use a soft toothbrush! It’s better to replace your toothbrush every 3 months than to get a harder one. Harder bristles cannot flex to bend around the curvatures of the teeth and under the gums. They are also too abrasive and can cause damage to the teeth and gums.
• Whitening toothpaste has a special ingredient in it to make that claim, but it really isn’t on the teeth long enough to be of any value, and it can cause sensitivity. We recommend the plainer pastes.
• Plain old baking soda is great to use as toothpaste! It is non abrasive, removes stains and best of all “shocks” the acid loving bad bacteria in one’s mouth by creating a more basic pH in the mouth.